Combined outlet-box and light-fixture.



PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

E. E. WEEEE. COMBINED OUTLET B0X AND MEET ETXTUEE.

APYLICATON FILED MAY 23.1905.

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EMANUEL D. WEBER, OFE'ASTON, PENNSYLVANA.

CONiBlNED OUTLET-'SGK IiP-D LEGHTHFXTMQE.

Application led May 28.

.To @ZZ whom, it yn'fty concern:

Be it known that l, EMNUEL DAVID WEBER, a citizen of the United States oi America, residing at Easton, in the county oi Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a Combined Outlet-Box and Light-Fixture, of which the following is specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric-licht wiring, and particularly te electric-light wiringof that character known as l(concealed porcelain knob and tube work, for combination gas and electric fixtures or straight electric 'i'ixtures One obj ect of the invention is to provide z safe, simple, and reliable insulating-receptacle located at the light-outlets or points in either ceilings or side walls where the wires terminate,'the said receptacle to receive, retain, and protect the wires.

Another object is to provide a receptacle olE sufficient size to receive the current-'carrying or supply wires, extending usually six to ten inches beyond the wall-line, also to receive all necessaryT wires extending from the lightingxture,`which Wires are usually six or more inches in length and extending l'roin the upper endof the ixture and are connected to the current-carrying or supply wire.

wires are placed at the present time und er the iixture-canopy--an uninsulated ."ccepta cle located at the top of the fixture. The canopy not being an insulated receptacle frequently has holes burned through it, caused by grounded or short-circuitcd wires or static discharges occurring during electrical storms.

Another object is to provide an insulated receptacle into-which the wires (which are now left projecting beyond the ceiling or wall-line) may be placed, so that the wires will be securely protected from careless handling or unavoidable injury.

Another object is to provide an insulatingreceptacle which will eflectually prevent grounding of the current and obviate all liaility of induction or static discharges from the wires to the gas-supply pipe, the fixturesupport, or the grounded or gas-pipe end of the insulating-joint.

Another object is to provide a construction which will permit, if so desired, of the outlet of any gas which may escape from the gassupply vpipe at the outlet end, and thus obviate any possibility of a fire or explosion from the ignition of the gas, and, finally, to generally simplify and improve the electric Specification of Letters Patent,

These l Patented July 3, 1906. 1905. Serial No. 261,839.

wiring of fixture connections of this character and provide an outlet-box which conforms in all respects to the rules and regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.

The preferred embodimentI of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central section through the fixture as applied to a side wall or ceiling and connected with the gas-supply pipe. Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing a modification.

The numeral 1 represents the side wall or ceiling of an apartment, and2 a gas-supply pipe which extends to the exterior thereoi` and is located, as usual, between the wall or ceiling andthe adjacent wall or ilooring. ln accordance with my invention i provide an outlet-box 3, agas-pipeinsulator 6, andasliding or threaded sleeve l, all of which constitute the. outlet-box complete and which are constructed of some insulating or non-conducting material. ded in the wall or ceiling 1 and is open at its outer end, which is flush with the wall or ceilinT l and is closed at its inner end 4. The close or inner end 4 of the outlet-box is provided with a central opening 5 the gas-supply pipe 2, the said opening 5 being made of sufficiently greater' diameter than the gas-supply pipe 2 to receive an interposed insulating-tube 6, constituting a gas-pipe insulator which is frictionally engaged with the wall of the opening 5 or has a threaded engagement therewith, as respectively shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and surrounds the gas-supply pipc- 2 between the elbow 7 and the outer or fixture end 8 of the gas-supply pipe.

The sleeve 14 may have a threaded connection with the gas-pipe. insulator 6 when the parts are horizontally disposed, as shown in Fig. 2, and a sliding connection when the parts are vertically disposed, as illustrated in 1. The sleeve 14 when made sliding and in final position rests at its lower end upon the insulation of the insulating-joint 9, thus closing the space at the connection of the insulating-joint 9 withthe outlet end 8 of the gassupply pipe 2, thereby preventing the supply-wires 17 or fixture-wires 19 from contacting the exposed end 8 of the gas-supply pipe 2 or the grounded end 11 of the insulatingjoint 9, thus lessening the liability of the supply-wires 17 or fixture-wires 19 becoming defective by grounding or static discharges during electrical storms and preventing electro` for the passage of The outlet-box 3 is embed- ICO IlO

, the sliding sleeve 1e into inches.

the pipe 2 4and fixture-stem 10.

The sleeve 14 when made sliding on the gas-pipe insulator 6 Will any gas that may escape end S, as the gas may pipe insulator 6 and the'gas-supply pipe 2 into space back of the plastering or Wall-line 1 or flow between the gas/pipe insulator 6 and the outletebox 3, and thence through the insulating-tubes i6 into the space back of the plastering or walld line.

The tubes 16 are fitted in the openings i5 for ,the supply-Wires 17.. These openings may be made either in the rear end et of the outlet-box 3, as shown, or in the sides of the outlet-box 3. These openings are made of sufficient size to allow of thein sei-tion of flexi! ble tubes or bushings 16 of proper diameter for the passage of the supply-wires 17, Which extend therethrough into the outlet-box 3. rThis construction provides an effective insulating ,connection Which conforms with the current rules of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.

The supply-Wires 17 usually extend beyond the ceiling or Wall-line 1 from six to ten One of the benefits of the outlet-box 3 is to forni a receptacle `into which the supply-wires may be tucked out of the Way of injury during the lathing, plastering, and finishing processes of building construction.

VV' hen buildings are completed and fixtures hung, the ends of the fixture-Wires 19, which are usually from six to ten inches long and enter the ixture-stein 10 through an opening or openings i0/ therein, are connected at their ends with the ends of the supply-Wires 17,` and the Wires when connected can be placed in the outlet-box 3, Where there will be ample room and Where they will be protected and completely insulated from contact with any part oic the gas-supply pipe 2 or the grounded end 11 of the insulating-joint 9.

The outlet-box 3 in practice Will be made suf iciently large to receive and retain the spare or slack 'portions of Wires 17 and 19 Without crowding. By the use of this outlet-box 3 the objectionable practice of confining Wires under the fixture-canopy 20 is obviated, and the liability of lires and other troubles and annoyancescaused by the use of an uninsulated metallic canopy lessened.

The pipe .2, forming the fixture-support, is

A termed a gas or gas-supply pipe, as its ordinary function is to support andv supply gas to a gas-burner fixture, one object of the invention being, as Will be readily understood, to utilize the ordinary gas-supply pipe projecting through the Wall of a room as a support for an electric-light fixture,v so as to allow of the outlet ofV at the connection of the insulating-joint 9 to the gas-pipe outlet. pass. between theA gasy avoid 'the expense of installing fixturefsupports'in buildings supplied with the Y usual gas-light equipment. In many .buildings independent gas and electric ligl'it xturesare used in different rooms, and in such cases the gas cannot be cut ofil r'roin the pipes supporting the electric-light fixtures Without also cutting ofi its i'iow to the other pipes to which the gas-burners are attached. Hence the insulating-joint 9 is employed to vclose each pipe towhich an electric-.light fixture is attached and to support such fixture therefrom. The'purpose of the other parts independent l of the inventionWill be obvious from the foregoing description and'explanation.

Gf course any other suitable fixture-support' maybe employed in place of the pipe 2-as, for instance, when electric-lighting iixtures are alone usedY or are intended' to be supported independent of the pipes of a gasservice system in a Abuilding supplied with such system. The box 3 may be used in either case as a receptacle forthe spare or slack portions of the Wires to obviate the objectionable practice of confining the same under the iixture-canopy 20.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-F 1. In an electric-light fixture, the combination of a gas-pipe, an insulating outlet-box surrounding the pipe, an insulating-sleeve surrounding the inclosed portion of the pipe,

and a seoond-insulating-sleeve engaging the first-named sleeve and inclosing ing portion of the pipe.

2. In an electric-light fixture, the combina-` tion of a gas-pipe, an insulating outlet-box surrounding the pipe, said box being provided with openings for ductors, an insulating-sleeve surrounding the y inclosed portion of thepipe, and a second insulating-sleeve inclosing the )rejecting portion of the pipe, said sleeves eing arranged to form a vent for the escape of gas leaking from the pipe.

3. ln an electric-light fixture, the combination of an outlet-box provided with insulated passages for leadvires, a pipe projectingthrough said box, an insulating-sleeve supported by the'box and surrounding the inc'losed portion of the pipe, and a second sleeve adjust-ably mounted on the first named sleeve and inclosing the projecting portion of the pipe.

4. In an electric-light fixture, thecoinbination of an outlet-box, .a pipe projecting through said box, an insulating-sleeve supported by the box and surrounding the inclosed portion of the pipe, and a second sleeve slidably engaging the first-named sleeve and inclosing the projecting portion of the pipe.

5. in an electric-light fixture, the combination of an insulating outlet-box having openings, a pipe projecting through one of said openings and extending through the box,

the projectlOO the passage of eon- Ils ^ sleeve adjustebly end of the pipe,

insulating-tubes for. the lead-Wires mounted the box and surrounding the inclosed portion in the other openings, an insulating-sleeve of the ipeJ and e second insulating-sleeve mounted in the o eningl through whichl the adjustahly engaging the rstenained sleeve pipe projects andpsurrounding the inclosed i and 'surrounding the projecting portion of the portion of the pipe and a portion of the pipe pipe about the joint. beyond the Wall of the box in which the 7. In an electric-light fixture, the combiopening is formed, and a second insulatin nation with a. gas-supply pipeJ of a. xtureengaging the iirst-nained stern Connected therewith and insulated sleeve and surrounding theouter extremity of therefroml an insulating outlet box eint 1e pipe.

6. In an electric-light iixture, the coinbination with a wall, of an outlet-box eine bedded t ierein and having un open side Hush l lated from the pipe, a canoptyT and conducting'- wlres extending into the box and leading to the stein7 said box belng arranged to forni a.

Vwith the Wall-surface, a gas-pipe extending 1 protecting chamber or receptacle for spare or through the box beyond said surface, :1r iixture-stein coupled to the outer end ol' thel pipe, a canopy inclosing said stem and outer Wires extending through said stem and also through the outlet-box, the latter being arranged to form a pocket or chamber for the storage ot slack portions of'i the wire, an insulating-sleeve supported by,

slack ortions of said wires, substantiallyv as described.l

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMANUEL D. WEBER. I/Vitnesses:

WILLIAM CHARLES InARon, HENRY OSCAR Mnnxnn.

bed ded in the Wall and surrounding and insu-` 

